Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez dedicates landmark goal to late grandad

The 30-year-old match-winner netted with a stooping header in the 73rd minute having gone close on a number of occasions beforehand.

Rodriguez, who had seen an earlier chance cleared off the line by Watford defender Craig Dawson, guided Dwight McNeil's delivery past Ben Foster after Josh Brownhill had won possession in midfield.

"I lost my grandad [Brian] recently, just before Covid and lockdown," said Rodriguez. "That goal was dedicated to him and he'll be proud of that.

"He was a Burnley man and he loved watching me play. Hopefully he's watching and he'll be proud.

To get to 50 goals is something I'm very proud of and hopefully I can score many more for the club. I'm really proud of that milestone."

The forward's first goal for the club was in another 1-0 win as the Clarets overcame Fulham in a League Cup tie on home soil on September 23rd, 2008.

Almost 12 years have passed since that finish - which spawned the 'Capital Punishment' cup run under Owen Coyle - and that's sparked a moment of reflection.

He said: "It's strange and you do sometimes look back. I'll probably get home and look back and think about how, when I was a young lad, my only dream was to step out onto the pitch.

"The only time I got on the pitch when I was younger was running off from the crowd after the last game of the season. Being a ball boy and growing up here, you do think about how much you'd love to play."

The Clarets’ eighth home win of the season, and 12th clean sheet of the campaign, was played behind-closed-doors on the hottest night of the year.

Rodriguez felt the absence of the supporters, but he was pleased to get the job done in such a professional manner as Burnley climbed to 11th in the Premier League.

"That shows the strength of the squad and the staff, everyone's wanting to drive forward," he said. "We want to be looking above us to see where we can reach rather than behind us.

"I'd be lying if I said it was normal and it was fine because you play the game for the fans, the atmosphere and for the buzz. They do have an affect on the game.

"I feel we've been very strict and regimented with how we've focused on what we need to do and that's credit to the staff and the lads.

"We are very driven to get results and I feel we've shown that. This is something we've got to get used to because it's going to be here until the end of the season, at least."